The Loeb-Leopold case - The Clarence Darrow Collection

The Loeb-Leopold Case
Q. Did you examine for any in this case?
A. No.
Q. Fantasies are carried over into real life?
A. As long as they remain fantasies the individual knows
their nature, that they are dreams or aspirations, and he may
try to live up to them. In that way they modify conduct.
it?
Q. A diseased mind functions in fantasies, often, doesn't
A. I presume it does.
Q. And the individual is ruled by fantasies as well as
realities often, is he not?
A. Not until they attain the delusional stage.
Q. What is the difference between fantasy and delusion?
A. Delusion is an error of judgment which the patient
cannot correct under any circumstances, and fantasy is a
dream which he realizes is a fantasy or a dream.
Q. You mean he can correct a fantasy but he cannot cor-
rect a delusion?
A. Yes.
Q. As a broad general rule, a daydream and a night
dream are both reflections of mental life?
A. Nothing can occur in a fantasy or in a night dream
that has not in some way come to the e.xperience of the
individual.
Q. If you would know all a mans dreams, or a boy's
dreams, and fantasies, and hopes, and ideals, you would know
something about the boy, would you not?
A. You would know the boy's character.
Dr. Harold D. Singer was the next witness for the
State. His conclusion was that neither Loeb nor
Leopold was afflicted with any mental disease and
he stated, in response to a question, that a paranoid
personality was not a disease. Following is a part
of the cross-examination by Mr. Darrow:
Q. WTiat is a split personality?
A. A splitting in the personality is the separation of ccr-
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